Thaindian News

New Delhi, April 8 (IANS) It is a place where for years people from across the country have been coming to voice their concerns and demands - a place of peaceful protest near the seat of power. And now the Jantar Mantar in the heart of the capital has become the epicentre of what can be called one of India’s biggest mass movements against corruption, led by 72-year-old crusader Anna Hazare.

Often compared to London’s Hyde Park, the site adjoining Jantar Mantar - the 18th century observatory - is perpetually filled with groups of people, all sitting there under pitched tents and peacefully protesting for varied causes.

Holding placards, distributing pamphlets and shouting slogans - at times also marching on Parliament Street - the demonstrators sit there from dawn to dusk. The small kiosks and tea shops close by have no dearth of customers.

Before Jantar Mantar, in the early 1990s, the Boat Club lawns along Rajpath was the place of protest before it was made out-of-bounds.

According to official statistics, Jantar Mantar saw over 1.5 lakh people taking part in demonstrations and over 12,000 detentions for breach of law in the first eight months of 2010. Further, from January 2006 to August 2010, at least 13,118 dharnas and as many as 5,491 demonstrations, rallies and processions were held at the site.

After the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, the city’s residents gathered in large numbers at Jantar Mantar and gave vent to their emotions through marches and candle light vigils. The site has also seen sit-ins by Bhopal gas tragedy victims and gay rights crusaders among others.

On April 5 this year, Anna Hazare began his fast-unto-death against corruption at Jantar Mantar, kicking off a mass movement - one of the biggest in recent history.

Anna Hazare is demanding that 50 percent of the committee that drafts the anti-graft law should comprise prominent civil society representatives and stringent punishment for graft offenders.

Jantar Mantar has been flooded with hundreds of people ever since his fast began, attracting support from all quarters of society and from across the country and abroad.

Like Anna Hazare, a number of protesters and even media persons have made the site their home with tables used as platforms to stand or sit on and raise slogans of ‘Vande mataram’ and ‘Inquilab zindabad’.

According to the activists, at night Anna Hazare - who is surviving just on plain water - rests behind a wide white curtain on the left corner of the protest dais and three table fans are there to keep him cool.

Hundreds of other protestors who are also undertaking the fast like their leader sleep on mattresses placed on green carpets under a white marquee.

So is Jantar Mantar India’s Tahrir Square? Not all will agree, but “Come to Jantar Mantar” is certainly a message that’s doing the rounds and fuelling passion among people.